Saturday, April 24, 2010

Sometimes you come across a bottle of wine that seems to simply evaporate in the glass. This my friends is just such a bottle. A blend of shiraz, grenache and mataro, it is a darn sight more interesting than most GSMs emanating from South Australia. This is a wine that screams "drink me". It has bright, shiny fruit but plenty of action on the palate. Complex but not demanding. Hard to go past this one. $24.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Don't be put off by the complicated name; this is a cracker. Made from the grape variety formerly called albarino in Australia (which actually turned out to be savagnin) the label is Rollo Crittenden's little joke; a tribute to Galcia in Spain, from where albarino originates. This is floral on the nose, with juicy ripe pear characters on the palate and a crisp, dry finish. Disarmingly drinkable. $29.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

One of the rising stars of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Paradigm Hill is the vision of passionate former medical researcher and biotech expert Dr George Mihaly and his wife Ruth, a former chef and now a viticulturist. This is an outstanding Australian pinot with lovely aromatics and and an excellent fruit/oak balance. It's already soft and smooth, with smart dark cherry flavours and hints of earthiness. It will probably cellar well but you may find it hard to stay hands off as it is drinking superbly right now. $50-60.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Who would have thought that a wine from Wrattonbully under a new label would be perhaps the most interesting savvy in Australia? This is a very impressive wine from the husband-and-wife team of Xavier Bizot and Lucy Croser; very textural in a fumé style with some wonderful complexity and sensible alcohol levels (12.7%). Unsurprisingly, and unashamedly, French in style but with some jolly, zingy Australian fruit character too. One out of the box and up there with Kiwi stars Greywacke and Te Koko. Brilliant for $24.